Need a Flower For An April Birthday? Daisies or Sweet Peas will do just fine!

The April birth flower is the daisy. Daisies are associated with innocence.  The Gerbera Daisy has large colorful blooms, which has made it a favorite with flower lovers. There is a legend that a nymph wanting to escape unwanted attention, transformed herself into the Daisy. Ever after this the April birth flower has the flower meaning of simplicity and modesty, inquisitiveness and brings a joyful, happy-go-lucky character wherever it appears.

I have an April baby……turning 20 this year!  How on earth did that happen as I am only 29 ;)’  I always go to Trader Joes and buy her a brightly colored bouquet of daisies!  The simple bundle of bright-colored cuties make you smile.

One of the most commonly found flowers; daisies are both simple and beautiful at the same time. These wild flowers are known for their resilience, and manage to flower in every month of the year. The daisy represents hope and new beginnings, the flower’s name literally means ‘day’s eye’ as the daisy opens at sunrise, marking the beginning of a new day. In the Language of Flowers daisies mean joy, happiness, beauty and innocence.

An alternate birth flower for April is the Sweet Pea which means blissful pleasures.

Happy Birthday, Girlfriend!

 

If your girlfriend is “The One,” and you see yourself eventually popping the  question, red roses convey the message of true love.  Sometimes, a single rose says more than a bouquet.  So, if you are on a budget do not worry about that expensive bouquet of red roses. Set the scene……….flowers, music, candle light,some chocolate covered strawberries,  maybe even some rose pedals scattered on the walk way to the front door.  When she arrives offer your birthday girl a single red rose! Play Elton John’s “The One’ in the background for a really romantic moment.  If money is not an issue and you want to sweep her off her feet…..hand over a lovely dozen long-stemmed red roses and you will be the Man!

A large of bouquet is always lovely but most of us gals are very sensible and understand that a huge bouquet of roses is pricey.  A single red rose given in the right manner is just as meaningful to us as a large bouquet that we know was not in the budget!

To send a different message, other varieties of flowers will customize your sentiments; for example,  dahlias say you are hers forever. Violets proclaim your faithfulness, and let her know she’s in your thoughts, while English ivy states your  intention of fidelity and a lifetime of wedded love ahead. If red roses aren’t  in your budget, a charming bouquet of white daisies also sends your message of a  love that conquers all, in a quieter way.

Maybe it’s too soon to know if there’s a wedding in your future. In that  case, the message you want to send is, simply, “I love you.” Red tulips declare your love simply yet boldly. To express your love and friendship, try red carnations. Orchids tell her, “You are beautiful.”

If celebrating her birthday for the first time, be sincere about your  feelings. In the Language of Flowers  giving the purple lilac reflect a  couple just beginning to feel the first blush of love — with an intoxicated  fragrance sure to please. Yellow irises indicate your feelings of passion. If  you’re not yet ready to declare your love, choose gardenias; if you appreciate her delicate beauty,  hibiscus flowers will let her know.

If your relationship hasn’t yet progressed to exclusivity, it would be dishonorable to choose red roses or flowers indicating fidelity. Light pink roses let her know she sparks your desire, while orange lilies trumpet your  passion. Yellow roses serve as ambassadors of forgiveness if for some reason you are residing in the dog house -maybe because you forgot you beloveds birthday!

Size Doesn’t Matter but Numbers Do!

Instead of a large bouquet try giving your beloved  a single rose.  We don’t do it much but just giving one rose is very significant.

A single rose says a lot and a lot more distinctly. Color changes the meaning of the single rose also.  Try one of these depending on  what you are trying to say:

• A single red rose says: “I love you”
• A single white rose says: “My feelings are pure”
• A single yellow rose says: “You bring joy to my life” “Let’s be friends”
• A single pink rose says: “I like you”
• A single orange rose says: “I am proud of you”
• A single peach rose says: “Thank you” “I sympathize with you”
• A single lavender rose says: “I am enchanted by you”
• A single blue rose says: “You seem like an unattainable dream”

The number symbolism in the case of roses is especially associated with red roses and by that association to romantic involvement.

A single Red Rose “I Love you” “You are the one for me”or “I still love you.”

Two roses, one red and one white mean:  desire, unity and mutual love.  I personally love this combination.

Three red roses simply say “I love you.” Stay away from giving four roses…….very unlucky!

Twenty-five red roses are traditionally used to say “Congratulations”. However, now that you have some idea of color symbolism in roses you may creatively substitute another color to further enliven the message. 25 orange roses given to a college graduate would be unique and appropriate.

Fifty roses means “my love is unconditional”.  That seems so fitting doesnt it?   Making it fifty years is a triumph and the couple had to have learned unconditional love to have made it so many amazing years!

The Most Popular Flowers To Express Your Sentiments

Here is a list of favorite flowers used in the Language of Flowers.  We will go over each flower and how we can use them to convey different meanings.  We will finish up the rose then move on down the list!

1.  rose
2.  carnation
3. chrysanthemum
4. tulip
5. orchid
6. baby’s breath
7. daisy
8. lily
9. calla lily
10. sunflower
11. larkspur
12. peony
13. iris
14. marigold
15. geranium
16. poppy
17. forget-me-not
18. paperwhite narcissus
19. camelia
20. bird of paradise
21. violet
22. daffodil
23. gardenia
24. sweet pea
25. freesia
26. azalea
27. lily of the valley
28. lilac
29. snapdragon
30. hydrangea (my fav!)
31. gladiola
32. amarylilis
33. aster
34. lavendar
35. ivy
36. alstomeria
37. ranunculus

Florography- Let’s Get Started!

Have you heard of florography?

I must say that I hadn’t even know about “floriology-florography” or the Language of Flowers -(different names used for the same topic!)  until I watched an  episode of Rosemary & Thyme a few years back.  I was intrigued.   Florography , it seems, is simply flower symbolism–a message said with flowers instead of words. I don’t thing floriology or florography is used much these days, so we will just stick with the Language of Flowers from now on!  Every flower has its own message.  Almond blossom, for example, says “I’m beginning to enjoy your friendship”, rosemary says, remembrance or  “Your memory will never fade”.  So a mixed bouquet can speak volumes!

Why do we love flowers so much?

“Their perfumes have refreshed our homes, they have cured many an illness and they also send their loving messages, so we really should care for them! Like the quiet, unassuming people of this world, flowers pass on their messages of strength and sweetness.  They should never be overlooked, but always cherished.”

~Francis Gay “The Friendship Book 1994”

Ready to start using flowers to express yourself to others?  The “can’t miss flowers”  are:

to say I love You……………send roses, carnations and poppies.

to convey happiness……….send daisies, gerberas, peonies or chysanthemums.

to send along good wish…………use a bouquet of any fresh flowers in season.

The Secret Language of Flowers by Samantha Grey-A Perfect Gift For Mothers Day

The Secret Language of Flowers by Samantha Grey is the inspiration behind this blog.  There are many books on the Language of Flowers and I probably have them all but……this tiny little hard bound book by Samantha Grey is really something special.  Small in size, visually stunning, chock full of useful and interesting facts on flowers and the Victorian Era.  Full of poems, pictures and a deep understanding of the Victorians fascination with the Language of Flowers.  If you love flowers this is a great book to treat yourself to!  It is also the perfect book to give a flower loving friend! I can’t say enough about this tiny little gem!

50 flowers are described in glowing detail, with gorgeous illustrations! A perfect Mother’s Day gift for your garden loving Moma!

Today Say I Love You With A Single Flower

Are you in a new romance?  For some reason you haven’t quite been able to say the words “I Love You”?    Or……you haven’t said “I Love You” to that special someone for a looooong time!  Take the time to say “I Love You” using the language of flowers. There isn’t a true woman on earth who doesn’t love flowers. Show the woman in your life how much you really care by thoughtfully choosing flowers that symbolize your unending devotion. Stop by the florist today or pick one of these great love flowers from your garden. Remember a lone flower is a fervent declaration of devotion to someone’s one and only love,  so how easy is it to say “I Love You” to the one you love today!

Flowers have many meanings ranging from friendship to love to sorrow. You can say just about anything with a flower. But you have to be sure you are conveying the right message with the right flower. There are flowers used for funerals and then there are flowers used for weddings. Much depends upon the color of the flower. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” but a black rose used where a red rose is appropriate wouldn’t be sweet at all.

Would you like something besides the typical red rose (true love) to tell your beloved how you feel?  Here are  a few good choices to choose from:

The red tulip: undying love

The Forget Me Not: true love

The purple lilac: first emotion of love

Arbutus: You’re the only one I love!

Daisy: loyal love

Never miss a chance to let the ones you love know it!  Life is too short to wait to say “I Love You”!

If you have never heard of trailing arbutus here is a short description…..

Legend has it that flowers of the arbutus heartened the Pilgrims after their first cruel winter on the New England coast. The scientific name, Epigaea repens, means “creeping upon the earth,” which describes its trailing habit.

Emily Dickinson knew it as:

“Dear to the Moss – Known to the Knoll— Next to the Robin – In every human Soul…” E.D.

Tussie-Mussie: The Language of Flowers (Paperback-review)

Flowers can say all kinds of things:

“I love you”

“How could you?!”

“Let’s get married”

“Happy Birthday”

just about anything. I orginally got this book for some research on Victorian customs and realized it can still be used today. This book goes way past just pretty pictures, though there are dozens of ideas for Tussie-Mussies to give to friends and family. There is a history of Tussie-Mussies and a Step by Step guide to making a Tussie-Mussie in the front, and — my personal favorite — TWO glossaries, a Vocabulary of Flowers and an Index of Sentiments. For research or fun, this is definitely the book to have.

Now let’s get busy and start making some Tussie-Mussies!  Our friends and family will be delighted!

Peony for Your Wedding Flower?

 

Picking the type and color scheme of flowers for your wedding can seem daunting.  Though if you research a little and discover the romantic meaning of certain flowers you can narrow the field of choices down pretty quickly.  Todays expample will be the Peony, which means……………. Happy marriage, Bashfulness, Prosperity! An excellent choice to start your marriage off on the right foot, IMHO.  There are lots of other flowers to chose from and we will cover them but today it is Peony day!

I remember a boyfriend sending me a bouquet of red roses while he was away, but it was not the roses that impressed me as much as the fact that he had asked for one single Forget-me-not to be included – I didn’t need anyone to tell me what that meant, but it is not always as obvious what flowers mean. Are you planning a wedding soon?  Would you like to know what your wedding bouquet will say? If so, read on…

Subtle and secret messages can be given by choosing flowers carefully. It is believed that the flower language began in Turkey during the seventeenth century. Romantic lovers began using floral exchanges to convey emotional messages using the flower meanings. The Victorians became very knowledgeable in the flower language and chose their bouquets carefully. Flowers gave them a secret language that enabled them to communicate feelings that the propriety of the times would not allow. Flower selections were limited and people used more symbols and gestures to communicate than words.

I have listed a few flowers and their meaning below, and if you are still deciding, I hope that this will give a little inspiration and you will have fun choosing which flowers to select for your wedding flowers. This list includes what I think fits in best with weddings but feel free to look at the longer lists to see if something pops out that’s just right for your unique wedding.

Agapanthus – Flower of love

Allium – Unity, Humility, Patience

Alstromeria – Devotion,Wealth, Good fortune

Anemone – Anticipation, Lust,Forsaken

Bluebell – Humility, Everlasting love

Calla Lily – Magnificent beauty

Cornflower – Delicacy, Hope in love, Blessedness

Cosmos – Beautiful Dahlia – Dignity, Elegance, Good taste

Daisy – Innocence, Loyal love, Purity, Gentleness, Romance, Cheerfulness

Delphinium – Flight of fancy, Ardent, Attachment, Agility

Forget-me-not – Faithful love, Undying hope, Memories, True love, Do not forget

Freesia – Innocence, Trust, Friendship

Gerbera – Happiness, Cheerfulness

Gypsophilia – Pure of Heart, Innocence

Hibiscus – Delicate beauty Hydrangea – Thank you for understanding

Iris – Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Promise, Hope, Friendship

Ivy – Wedded love, Fidelity,Frienship, Affection

Jasmine – Amiability Lilac (white) – Youthful innocence, Purity, Modesty

Lilac  – First emtion of love

Lily (pink) – Youth, Acceptance,Prosperity

Lily (white) – Youthful love, Purity

Lily of the Valley – Return to happiness, Sweetness, Devotion

Lisianthus – Appreciation Mexican

Orange Blossom – Purity, Eternal love, Marriage

Orchid – Refined love, Beautiful lady

Peony – Happy marriage, Bashfulness, Prosperity

(I am a huge fan of the mason jar, if you planning  a wedding  on  a budget  think about simple mason jars filled with your fav flowers for your centerpieces.  They are charming and whimsical!  Your local craft store will sell all sizes and colors of mason jars.  I also highly recomend using http://www.bloomsbythebox.com/ to buy your flowers and make your own arrangements.  Have a hen party and put all your centerpieces togther the day before the wedding.  It’s wonderful bonding time and it will soothe your nerves. Trust me on this one.)

Poppy – Pleasure, imagination, Wealth

Primrose – I cannot live without you

Ranunculus – I am dazzled by your charms, radiant

Rose – Confidentiality, Love, Passion

Stephanotis – Happiness in marriage, Desire to travel

Sunflower – Adoration, Pride, Sunshine, Longevity

Tulip – Perfect lover, Romance

Note –  Depending on the culture, quite different meanings of flowers are attached to the same blooms, so you may find variations. This is my short list of wedding flowers and thier  meanings.

How To Make a Tussie-Mussie

Tussie-Mussies

Tussie-mussies were small handheld fragrant bouquets often wrapped in lace doilies. Most often, they were a combination of fragrant herbs; each had its own meaning and a single central flower. Great care was taken to combine the selection in such a way that its meaning was accurately expressed. Tussie-mussies were also known as nosegays. They were sometimes carried at nose level to block out some of the unpleasant odors common during the Victorian Era. Suitors presented tussie-mussies to their ladies and watched to see if they were held at heart level, which indicated happiness and acceptance. Tussie-mussies held pointing downward were a sign of rejection. Not only did a certain flower have significance, but colors also expressed variations in intent or emotions. Even today, a red rose is said to be an expression of passionate or true love, a pink rose is a sign of warm affection, white roses are associated with purity, and yellow roses with friendship. (Unless you are a passionate Texan!)

Flower Meanings – Flowers and their meanings have changed throughout the years as many of the original meanings were forgotten. Cultural differences and even regional areas influence the meaning of flowers. Today flowers are connected with birthdays or a State Flower rather than a lot of intricate meaning.

Tussie-Mussies: “Talking Bouquets” – Tussie-mussies are also called nose bouquets. Traditionally composed of fragrant herbs held tightly together in a circular design with a single flower in the center, they became a popular floral gift during Victorian times. The custom of sending subtle communications with flowers began to influence what flowers were chosen based on the intended message.

Tussie-Mussies – During the Victorian Era, flowers were combined to signify messages. Small tightly composed hand-held bouquets known as tussie-mussies or a nosegay was given as gifts and to acknowledge special occasions. The way a bouquet was held often indicated acceptance, acknowledgement, or approval. Though today’s bridal bouquets are generally larger than a nosegay, they are a modern example of a tussie-mussie.

HOW TO MAKE A TUSSIE-MUSSIE

Materials Needed

• Filler plants (see note below)
• A large flower for the tussie-mussie heart
• Scissors or small pruners
• Hole punch
• Paper doily
• Curling ribbon or raffia
• Floral tape
• Index card
• Colored pencils
• A glass of water

Note:  Suggested filler plants include baby’s breath, pansies, violets and fragrant herbs. I used a pink rose for  the centerpiece (if you’ve been reading my blog you know the pink rose symbolizes ?????  You are right! Warm  Affection or Perfect Happiness) Add baby’s breath as filler and large rose leaves and ivy to surround the rose. A tiny bunch of perfection for someone you are warm and fuzzy about!

Use the language of flowers list that I included in previous posts to gather plants for your chosen meaning for your  tussie-mussie. Cut the plants in four to six inch lengths.  Strip the bottom  leaves, and rest the plants in a glass of water while you work.  Hold the center  of the flower in one hand, and surround it with a suitable layer of filler  plants.  Secure all stems with floral tape.  Arrange large leaves such as ivy  around the outer edge of the tussie-mussie center to border it.  Secure this,  too, with floral tape.  Cut a hole in the middle of the doily by marking an X  there.  Insert the trunk of the tussie-mussie plants into the precut doily and  secure the base of it with floral tape.  Tie curling ribbon or raffia onto the  tussie-mussie’s trunk at the base of the doily.  Fold an index card in half, and  punch a hole at the top left corner of it.  Use colored pencils to write a brief  sentiment on the index card, and attach it to the tussie-mussie.

Your tussie-mussie is now complete.